Rise in Cosmetic Surgery in Minorities: 2013 Statistics

According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, plastic surgery is becoming a growing trend for minorities. These individuals seek to enhance their differences rather than make changes that would shed their ethnicity altogether. Their study shows that both facial cosmetic and reconstructive surgery has increased exponentially among minorities and has increased by four times for Asian-Americans and more than 3 times for African Americans. Hispanics surgeries have more than doubled. Caucasians have only shown a 34% increase in procedures.

Many doctors believe this is a result of more acceptance of plastic surgery in society. Also, the mass media has raised awareness that there is no single standard of beauty and also have informed people on how to find a reputable plastic surgeon and the process for seeking out treatment.

The society revealed other trends in procedures from minority patients. The most popular plastic surgery procedures include eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and rhinoplasty (a nose job). The most popular non-surgical treatments were microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and Botox or other fillers. Caucasians are more likely to have rhinoplasty or facelifts.

A recent study released in December 2013 from the same society shows a 10% increase since 2012. Minority women focused more on enhancing their ethnic beauty values than hiding them. The same study showed differences between the minority genders where men typically wanted rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, Botox or hair transplants, no matter what ethnicity they were.

Nearly 50% of these patients said that looking younger was the reason for their surgery. Also, the study found that men are more likely than women to say that want cosmetic surgery because of work.
Approximately 6 out of every 100 women seek cosmetic procedures because of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and nearly 7 out of every 100 men suffer from this disease. The survey questionnaire completed by members of this society was all board certified surgeons by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Another study from 2011 found that the number of black patients who had plastic surgery increased by 7.5% and 4.7% for Hispanics and nearly 15% for Asians. Native Americans had an increase of over 105.5%.

While Caucasians still make up the majority of plastic surgery patients, as surgeons it is still important to understand the needs of minority patients and recognize trends in your field. Also, as a plastic surgery patient, no matter your ethnicity, it’s important to find a reputable and certified plastic surgeon to perform your surgery.